A lot has changed for the better during Newcastle United's exciting new era at St James' Park - but the Magpies could not change their wretched record at Wembley.
The hoodoo on English football's greatest stage of all means the trophy drought will merely be extended by another year but the truth is Newcastle never really came close in the Carabao Cup final. For all the concerns over Loris Karius, he handled the majority of the game reasonably enough but was exposed by a defence that have been praised highly this season.
This was a presentable enough opportunity for Eddie Howe and his players to finally deliver some silverware but they were lukewarm in the opening stages and then switched off completely on 33 and 39 minutes to effectively hand Man United the cup.
Newcastle United vs Manchester United highlights and reaction
There were spats of cup finals of old in 1974, 1998 and 1999 but given the £200million spend of the Magpies, they barely laid a glove on the Red Devils. The disappointment will take some getting over but when the dust settles there is still a chance to at least give the fans a place in Europe this season.
On a mild February day with the sun shining at the east end of the hallowed Wembley turf, the venue of legends gradually filled up with excited Geordie fans. The west end of the ground was like an extension of St James' Park with the players roared on to the field for the warm-up and backed until the games started.
Wembley was at fever pitch by the time his game kicked off a couple of minutes late as the organisers tried to squeeze in the usual final showpiece proceedings.
The Magpies, who started with their usual 4-3-3 formation, just about settled any early nerves Karius may have had with a nod back from Dan Burn in the opening seconds. The German stopper would then face a corner in the second minute but after Bruno Fernandes swung the ball in Joelinton headed clear.
Inevitably, the cup final got off to a ferocious start with Allan Saint-Maximin picking out Bruno Guimaraes in the box but the Brazilian was quickly surrounded by red shirts. Moments later, Saint-Maximin skipped down the left again but was dealt with by Diogo Dalot.
Dalot sent the French winger flying again on nine minutes and was promptly shown a yellow card for his trouble by referee David Coote. With 13 minutes gone, Man United had the game's first real shot of note as Wout Wieghorst hit one on the turn in the box but Karius gratefully scooped it up.
Karius' gloves were warmed again on 17 minutes as Antony curled one from the right-hand side of the penalty area with his left foot but again he gathered well and offered no suggestion of any cup final nerves. With 25 minutes gone, Fabian Schar headed over after Kieran Trippier's cross but then went down after a collision in the box.
That was Newcastle's first real opening of the match in the penalty area but it was never troubling David De Gea. Schar needed lengthy treatment but was declared fit to continue.
Newcastle's best chance of the first half came just after the half hour mark as Trippier rolled it to Sean Longstaff before the Geordie cut the ball across the face of goal. Saint-Maximin eventually picked up the pieces and fired at goal but De Gea flicked the ball into the air before Bruno smashed it high the bar on 32 minutes.
The miss would be rued by Bruno with Man United grabbing the lead on their next attack as Luke Shaw whipped a free-kick into the box and Casemiro guided home a header. There was a short delay after a VAR check for offside but there would be no reprieve.
Six minutes later the situation worsened when Weghorst moved the ball on to Marcus Rashford with the England striker firing a shot that deflected off Botman and nicked over Karius. Newcastle had a chance when Dan Burn turned a header wide from a set-piece two minutes before the break.
Karius will be disappointed with the second goal but he made an important save just before half-time. With Weghorst getting free on the right he tipped over and prevented the game from slipping even further from Newcastle's grasp.
The first half ended with frustrations boiling over and Joelinton picking up a yellow card for a couple of unsavoury incidents when booting the ball at Antony and pulling down Casemiro. The Magpies went in 2-0 down at the interval and with a mountain to climb.
Howe switched things up at half-time when taking off Longstaff and replacing him with Alexander Isak and went with a 4-4-2 formation. The Old Trafford side replaced the yellow carded Dalot with Aaron Wan-Bissaka at the break and started the second half brightly.
Indeed, Man United had the next opportunity with Weghorst benefiting from Shaw's cross and directing an effort at Karius. The Wembley final reached the hour mark with Man United still in full control.
Although, the Magpies rallied with Saint-Maximin winning a corner and a Joelinton shot blocked by Lisandro Martínez and sent wide mid-way through the second period. When Schar lost the ball with 17 minutes remaining, Rashford again cashed in but Karius saved well.
With the Red Devils in control of their own destiny, they sent on subs Marcel Sabitzer and Scott McTominay to solidify things even more with Fred and Weghorst - having done their jobs - heading off. It was after that, Howe turned to Jacob Murphy and Joe Willock in a last gasp bid to force a way into the contest.
Saint-Maximin, arguably United's most threatening player with a few flashes of offensive quality, went off with Bruno also taken off after a disappointing return. Murphy forced a corner with 10 minutes left on the clock but Trippier's set-play was beyond disappointing as it failed to get past the first man.
In desperation Schar threw himself to the ground looking for a penalty that was never on the cards after a nudge from Bruno. Antony went off for Man United with Jadon Sancho handed the dying stages.
Murphy dropped his shoulder and got beyond his man on the right but his shot was high and wide with seven minutes to go. The former Norwich winger's long range effort with three minutes left swung just wide of the post.
Howe made two more late substitutes with Matt Ritchie and Elliot Anderson both coming on during stoppage time. Wilson and Almiron both went off after desperately disappointing afternoons.
A late looping header from Joelinton was pushed away by De Gea but there was still time for Karius saved again to deny Fernandes after he burst forward on the break. It could have been worse for sure, but despite creating 14 goal attempts, De Gea only had one real save to make from Saint-Maximin.
Wembley woe strikes again for Newcastle but the hope is this will be the first of many finals to come. At the moment that doesn't feel like any consolation.
The venue is an awful place to lose and Wembley way is no place for runners up. The quest for silverware goes on.
Attendance: 87,306
Referee: David Coote
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